Death With All the Trimmings is the fifth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, and, thus, it is my fifth vacation to Key West via Lucy BurDeath With All the Trimmings is the fifth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, and, thus, it is my fifth vacation to Key West via Lucy Burdette's spot-on description of this favorite paradise of mine. It was especially delicious this time, as I had just been in Key West a couple of months ago. Of course, it made me want to return for the Christmas and New Year celebrations in this quirky, loveable place. Talk about "the city that never sleeps," well, I do believe Lucy has proved to readers just which city that really is. Just as the main character Haley Snow has great affection for the crazy that is Key West, Lucy Burdette's affection shines through, too, while not glossing over certain problems in paradise. With fabulous wit and great-paced plotting, the author continues to delight readers as we follow Haley's attempts to establish her independent life amidst the stumbling blocks of her work, her family, and her uncanny ability to land right in the middle of murder.

Christmas season has arrived in Key West, and with it street parades, boat parades, twinkling lights, and high season for tourists and their love of the fun activities and tempting foods found in abundance. Amid all the joyful events, Haley finds her food critic job at the online Key Zest Magazine in real jeopardy, as Ava Faulkner, major investor in Key Zest and no friend of Haley's, wants to bring in new investors and change the magazine's focus. Haley finds both comfort and tribulation in her mother's presence on the island, her mother having decided to spend the winter in warm breezes rather than frigid winds. But, the get-togethers at her mother's house do give Haley a sense of familiarity she still values. Miss Gloria, Haley's senior citizen roommmate on the houseboat where they live definitely adds spark and humor to the story, and the image of her on the back of Haley's scooter is priceless. Haley's relationship with her boss Wally is at a stalling point, as he deals with his mother's cancer and the pressure from Ava in changing the magazine's format. So, it is with a nothing-to-lose attitude that Haley jumps into the opening of a new, highly anticipated restaurant called Bistro on the Bight anchored by chef-owner Edel Waugh, a New York transplant with plenty of favorable press. Haley's last assignment, before being put on hold in her job, was to interview Edel before her opening. Well, not surprisingly, Haley becomes head-over-heels involved when Edel and her restaurant begin to experience strange occurrences. Then, a fire at the restaurant really heats up the action and raises the stakes when a dead body is discovered in the burnt shed, where most of the damage hit. Edel seems to be relying on Haley to discover what is happening to sabotage the restaurant's opening. In spite of a tarot card reading by her favorite seer, Lorenzo, that promised trouble ahead, Haley continues to deepen her involvement with Edel and the danger of a murderer lurking around. It is indeed trouble that Haley finds, and not just her neck is on the line.

I am just so smitten with this series that I am happy to be an advocate for spreading the word to mystery lovers who enjoy a dead body in a lovely setting. Lucy Burdette has created a cast of characters that I would love to sit down with, preferably in Key West, and share a meal. There are such interesting personal stories going on around the main plot of murder and mayhem that every page provides a reading pleasure. I am completely invested in these wonderful characters, and I can't wait to see the progression of their lives and passions. And, did I mention the great food the reader encounters. I've even learned a thing or two about food and cooking, and the recipes in the back of each book are to die for. Oops, perhaps, to live for would be more appropriate.

I received an ARC of this book from the author, an early Christmas present indeed. My review reflects my honest opinion of Death With All the Trimmings. I highly recommend it as a Christmas present that will give much pleasure. ...more

I normally enjoy writing reviews, but when I'm reading through a series as enjoyable as Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness Mysteries, I don't want to stop forI normally enjoy writing reviews, but when I'm reading through a series as enjoyable as Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness Mysteries, I don't want to stop for anything, writing reviews included. I have just finished A Royal Threesome, which includes the first three novels in this absolutely page-turner series set in 1930s Great Britain. Her Royal Spyness is the first novel, introducing Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, the daughter of the late Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch of Scotland and sister of the current Duke. The Lady goes by Georgiana, or Georgie to her friends, for obvious reasons. Lady Georgie's grandmother just happened to be Queen Victoria's "least attractive" daughter, who, in desperation, was married off to Georgie's grandfather, a Scottish baron rewarded with a dukedom for the marriage. Her father was born to this union, and her half-brother was born to the union of her father with a suitable wife, the daughter of an English Earl. However, the suitable wife died, and Georgie's father was smitten with Georgie's mother, an actress and commoner, who didn't stay around long after Georgie was born, but continues to be a presence in social gatherings. Georgie, 34th in line to the throne was raised by her nanny at Castle Rannoch in Scotland and taught all the proper ways of a Lady, but nothing about living in a world outside of those parameters.

The series begins with Her Royal Spyness in which twenty-one-year-old Georgie is living at Castle Rannoch, unmarried in spite of her coming-out season and a loose end for her brother Binky and his money-pinching wife Fig. Of course, Rannoch Castle is running on fumes, and Georgie is all too aware of the burden she has become and the stepped up attempts to find a suitable husband for her. So, she decides to escape the critical eyes of Fig and try her luck of survival in London. While she does have a nice house in which to stay in London, Rannoch House, she is without any servants, without any funds, and in dire need of employment. Learning for the first time in her life how to take care of herself and the bits of the house she uses, she manages to at least accomplish survival. With the help of her non-royal grandfather from Essex, she learns how to light a fire and simple maintenance necessities. She meets up with a friend from her boarding school days, Belinda Warburton-Stoke, who proves to be an essential tutor in living independently and the virtues and vices of men. Georgie even manages to bring in a little money by going incognito as a housekeeper, opening up the homes of her societal equals when they come to London to visit.

While trying to learn and earn her way in a world far different from the one in which she grew up, Georgie is thrown into situations and problems that will require the all the Rannoch resolve she can muster. The Queen enlists Georgie's help in spying on her wayward son David, who is straying from his duties with a certain American woman. Someone shows up with a document stating that Georgie's father lost Castle Rannoch as a gambling debt before he died. Georgie finds a dead Frenchman in her tub and must work to solve why. And, a handsome Irishman of long standing peerage named Darcy O'Mally appears to further complicate Georgie's life with his here today, gone tomorrow act. There is never a dull moment in Georgie's new life

Lady Georgiana is one of the most delightful characters I've had the pleasure to come across in my reading. She is accident prone and naive, but she is also competent and resourceful. Inexperienced in the ways of the world, especially with men, it is laugh out loud fun watching her find her footing. Rhys Bowen has created a witty, endearing cast of characters that I can't wait to read more of. The unexpected bonus is the history and customs of England's royal family in the 1930's with connections to world importance. I am reading one right after another in this series, as I am thoroughly addicted. ...more

I was fortunate enough to meet and spend time with Ovidia Yu at last year's Bouchercon in Albany. She is without a doubt one of the nicest, most graciI was fortunate enough to meet and spend time with Ovidia Yu at last year's Bouchercon in Albany. She is without a doubt one of the nicest, most gracious people I've ever met. I didn't know of her successful background as one of Singapore's premiere writers at that time, and she never allluded to it. Humble is another adjective to add to nice and gracious, as is intelligent. So, I was able to get a copy of Aunty Lee's Delights, her first published U.S. work, and have it signed by Ovidia. Now, I can't explain or excuse myself for having taken this long to get around to reading it. My mistake and my missing out. Aunty Lee's Delight is a first rate cozy, with a cast of characters who will charm, puzzle, aggravate, and bemuse you. As if the novel itself isn't entertaining enough, there is an interview conducted by Louise Penny of Ovidia at the end of the book. In that interview, Ovidia states that Louise, in writing about Canada, gave her the courage to write about her home place, Singapore. Well, readers will be glad she received that boost of courage from the amazing Louise Penny. Singapore turns out to be quite an interesting setting, and the food that Aunty Lee cooks up in her shop is new and fascinating to me.

At a beach resort off Singapore called Sentosa, a body of a young woman washes ashore. With her identification comes the knowledge that Aunty Lee is acquainted with the deceased and feels compelled to discover what happened to her. It's certain that murder has occurred, as the body was wrapped up when found. There is a connection with the wine dinings that Aunty Lee's stepson has initiated at Aunty Lee's Delight's, Aunty's restaurant. Aunty Lee considers anyone whom she has fed her business or extended family, and she quietly begins to untangle the web of lies and secrets surrounding the death of the young woman and disappearance of another. Ovidia Yu credits Agatha Christie with her "falling in love with reading," and like Miss Marple, Aunty Lee seems to know everybody in the vicinity of the victim's world. Aunty Lee calmly and discreetly digs into the lives of the people around her, using her food as her secret weapon to break down the walls people throw up around themselves.

Ovidia Yu has done a masterful job of creating interesting characters, and their interactions with one another are entertaining and informative. Aunty Lee, whose name is Rose Lee, is a widowed and quite well off, but she refuses to set back and take it easy. She is a participant in life, not a bystander. Her relationship with her stepson Mark and his wife Selina is a hoot. Aunty Lee calls Selina Silly-Na. Nina is Aunty Lee's maid/assistant and a pretty sharp cookie herself. Senior Staff Sergeant(SSS) Salim is a likeable, capable person to be in charge of the murder investigation, and he is smart enough to listen to Aunty Lee with her gift of detecting. And, in amongst all the witty dialogue and great food are a gay couple who bring a serious, meaningful presence to the plot. Their love is illegal in Singapore, and, yet, they are willing to face the odds to stand for their equality.

So, Ovidia Yu gives readers a special treat with this new series. She entertains us and still manages to address important issues. I am so looking forward to reading the next installment of the Aunty Lee books. It's especially pleasing that this author is as talented at writing as she is at being an outstanding human being. ...more

After reading Lyndsay Faye's first novel, Dust and Shadows, and meeting the author at the 2013 Bouchercon, I knew that her books were always going toAfter reading Lyndsay Faye's first novel, Dust and Shadows, and meeting the author at the 2013 Bouchercon, I knew that her books were always going to reflect a brilliant intellect and attention to detail. That she knows how to weave all of her smart writing and historical insight into an incredibly riveting story should come as no surprise. So, it is with high expectations that I opened The Gods of Gotham and began to read. Setting the bar high was met with can't believe I still didn't set it high enough. Historical fiction and mystery combined is my favorite type of reading, and I am in my favorite place when the history involves a seminal event, such as the debut of the New York Police Department in 1945. But, then, Lyndsay Faye is an original herself.

Timothy Wilde has been tending bar and putting side a nice savings, with which he hopes to gain the hand of Mercy Underhill, when life throws him a huge curve ball. His dreams literally go up in smoke with a fire that destroys the bar at which he works and much of downtown Manhattan. Along with his occupation, his residence and money are lost, and he suffers a disfiguring burn injury to the top right part of his face. He is forced to accept a job with the newly formed police department of New York City, a job arranged by his older and irksome brother Valentine. So, Timothy begins his life as a "copper star" reluctantly, but with a determination to set up a new life for himself without the dreams that once guided him.

Assigned to the Sixth Ward of the city, Timothy is making his rounds when a ten-year-old girl stumbles into him, a girl in her night dress covered in blood. Thus begins this newly pinned policeman's foray into a world where children are imprisoned in lives of adult seediness and shame, and where hope is but a distant, dimming light. And, many of these children are of Irish descent, either traveled with parents from Ireland or born to the Irish immigrants who are arriving in droves due to the worsening Potato Famine in Ireland. The Protestants of the city are not welcoming to people whose religion is steeped in papacy. The ill feelings toward the Irish immigrants are evident in the treatment of them and the organized groups whose aim is to drive them out of the city and back to their homeland. So, an Irish child is close to the bottom of the food chain when Timothy Wilde meets this terrified child who tells him tales of murdered children who nobody seems to have missed and mass graves where nobody will ever pay respects or mourn. In undertaking an investigation into these atrocities, Timothy comes into contact with corrupt politics, restricted charities, his dream woman that he has forced himself to abandon, his brother's addictions and influences, a ruthless Madam, resourceful newspaper boys, the much-hated Catholic Church, the violence of Five Points and Bill the Butcher, the tensions between the Irish and the Black populations, and the girl whose bloody collision started it all. The history of New York City in 1845 is fascinating, and Lyndsay Faye lays it all bare in a most engaging tale with characters that will take up permanent residence in your store of reading memories. Timothy Wilde, Valentine Wilde, Bird Daly, Mercy Underhill, George Matsell (who actually was the first Police Chief of NYC), Silkie Marsh are characters that will capture your imagination and keep it.

Lucky for readers, there is a second book out, Seven for a Secret, that continues the story of Timothy Wilde and the New York City Police force still in its infancy. Lyndsay Faye is simply a writer whose brain clicks on all cogs and is able to share her firm grasp of history and great capacity for story in novels that will be hailed as brilliant time and time again. What is especially notable for her fans is that she is a thoroughly nice person, too. ...more

October 1903 finds newlyweds Molly Murphy Sullivan and Daniel Sullivan arriving in a rainstorm at the cottage, what the rich call a mansion, in NewporOctober 1903 finds newlyweds Molly Murphy Sullivan and Daniel Sullivan arriving in a rainstorm at the cottage, what the rich call a mansion, in Newport, Rhode Island. Alderman Brian Hannan has offered the use of an actual cottage next to the mansion as a delayed honeymoon destination for the couple, their original honeymoon being interrupted by Daniel's call back to New York City on pressing case. While the start to this delayed honeymoon was rough with the rain and sleeping in a barn until they could gain access to their intended abode, Molly and Daniel are delighted to have a quiet place in beautiful surroundings, the ocean at their doorstep, to enjoy the benefits of their recent marriage. Not so fast.

Before Daniel can say, "What am I going to do with you, Molly," the alderman's family, consisting of his children,his grandchildren, his siblings and some of their children, and assorted servants descend upon the mansion for an out-of-season stay at their Newport summer home. Neither the Sullivans or the Hannans are happy to see each other, and neither side knows exactly why they are all gathered there together. They all await the arrival of Alderman Hannan to explain. Unfortunately, he is unable to enlighten them; he is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Daniel isn't impressed with the police chief that takes charge of the investigation into the death, but before Daniel can insert himself into the proceedings, he comes down with a nasty cold, due to their soaking the night of their arrival. Molly has promised her new husband that she is out of the detective business, but what's a girl to do when there's detecting to do and the official detective is down and out? She does what Molly always does, makes sure justice is sought and served.

Molly's sense of the fey seems to be on full alert in this setting of drafty mansions and mysterious deaths. Sure that she saw the face of a child in the turret of the mansion on the night she and Daniel arrived and feeling cold spots in the large abode itself, Molly is not completely surprised to learn of a child's death at the same spot on the cliffs where the child's grandfather, Brian Hannan, met his death. Are the two deaths related? Are there ghosts trying to communicate? Is someone in the Hannan family keeping dark secrets that must be protected? With Daniel incapacitated, Molly stands alone to discover why Alderman Brian Hannan assembled the different parties together, how it resulted in his death, and who is killing to ensure secrets stay buried. ...more

In Molly Murphy mystery #10, Rhys Bowen uses her historical storytelling skills to bring readers yet another fascinating part of New York City in theIn Molly Murphy mystery #10, Rhys Bowen uses her historical storytelling skills to bring readers yet another fascinating part of New York City in the early Twentieth Century. New York City's Chinatown in 1903 was a mysterious, dangerous place where even the police tread carefully. Of course, that's exactly where Molly Murphy ends up.

Molly has spent ten days with her soon-to-be mother-in-law in Westchester County, sewing her wedding trousseau and meeting Daniel's upper crust friends cultivated by his mother. Relegated by Daniel's mother to sewing on undergarments due to her lack of skills with a needle, Molly is overjoyed at receiving an invitation from her friends Gus and Sid to a pre-wedding party they are throwing her over Labor Day weekend. Molly uses this invitation as her get-out-of-mother-in-law-hell card and rushes back to the city. As Daniel has agreed to live at Molly's Patchin Place house and is currently having it redecorated, she decides to stay in her old room at her dear friends' house across the street. Upon arrival, Gus and Sid hand her a note from a prospective client who came looking for Molly. Having promised Daniel that she is quitting her private detective business, she reasons in the way Molly always reasons that she isn't married yet, so she accepts an assignment from a powerful Chinese businessman to locate a missing jade medallion. As usual, with Molly, a medallion is not just a medallion, and the real case becomes locating the missing Chinese bride-to-be of the Chinese client. However, it isn't even that simple. Again, no surprise. Molly is as diligent as ever trying to decipher just what and who is genuine and innocent in what turns into a murder investigation. Trying to make sense of it without Daniel discovering her involvement proves impossible and puts an enormous strain on a relationship that's supposed to be headed to the alter in two weeks. Here comes the bride, we hope....more

Rhys Bowen brings New York City and its people, famous and not, alive like no other author. She weaves well-known historical and entertainment figuresRhys Bowen brings New York City and its people, famous and not, alive like no other author. She weaves well-known historical and entertainment figures into the Molly Murphy stories like a fine silk lining in a well-tailored jacket. In The Last Illusion, this reader was treated to a personality and profession I have long found fascinating, Houdini and the enigmatical art of the illusionist. I knew I was in for an exciting ride when the unconventional worlds of Molly Murphy and Houdini collided. Anything was possible, and the author gave me page after page of possibilities fulfilled.

A much anticipated trip in the hot summer days of New York City with Daniel to Miner's Bowery Theater to see the great Houdini, recently returned from a successful three-year European tour, results in a journey into the elusive world of illusion for Molly Murphy, private detective and fiance of Captain Daniel Sullivan of the New York Police Department. Before Houdini and his assistant, wife Bess, can take the stage, a horrible mishap occurs when another illusionist performs a sawing-in-half trick on his assistant, Lily, and Lily is actually sawed into almost in two. The audience is sent home, but, as a member of the police force, Daniel takes charge of the grisly scene, while Molly stands by and watches. Of course, Molly never stands by for long, and she soon finds herself comforting Bess Houdini, who is overcome with shock at the sight of the injured and dying Lily. Daniel and his men start an investigation, and Molly goes home without expectation of any further involvement. However, a note sent from Bess Houdini to Molly's Patchin Place residence the next morning starts the wheels turning for a new and remarkable case for Molly, as Bess wants to hire Molly to uncover who is trying to harm Houdini, something that Bess is sure to be a real threat. With Daniel making demands that Molly give up her detective career when they get married, which he hope is sooner rather than later, Molly vaguely promises that this case will be her last. If indeed it is her last, it is certainly one of her most intriguing and important ones. Murder, espionage, counterfeiting, magic, the Secret Service, and Molly once again taking the stage. "Never a dull moment" is redefined in this thrill of a tale.

One of the aspects of the Molly Murphy series that I am finding especially satisfying is the historical descriptions of a growing and changing New York City, the contrasts of old and new. In one particular description, Molly is riding in an automobile with Daniel, and she recites the images and sounds experienced. "While we had been talking we had passed fashionable shopping districts and Macy's spanking new department store that took up a whole block along Broadway. then at last Midtown gave way to the crowded streets of the Lower East Sid and we made slow progress, inching between delivery drays, trolleys, and pushcarts. Ragged children darted across the street with no apparent concern for their safety and the air rang with the cries of vendors, the clang of constructions from a new building, the shrill squeals of children, and the clip-clop of horses' hooves. A veritable cacophony, but one that I had come to love. It was the sound of a city full of life." ...more

In a Gilded Cage is a return to normalcy for Molly Murphy's young man, Daniel Sullivan, as he is reinstated to his position as Captain in the New YorkIn a Gilded Cage is a return to normalcy for Molly Murphy's young man, Daniel Sullivan, as he is reinstated to his position as Captain in the New York City police force. Daniel is ready to get on with life now, which to him means settling down with Molly as his wife and moving to a home that is their own. Molly, is anything but settled, as she is introduced to more new aspects of the independent woman. Her friends, Sid and Gus bring Molly into the awareness of the women's suffragette movement, talking her into participating in a plea for the right-to-vote walk during the New York City famous Easter Parade. Of course, the women are arrested, and Molly finds herself once again explaining to Daniel her involvement in a "radical" cause. Molly also meets an interesting group of Vassar graduates, classmates of Sid's and Guss's, which leads to two cases for Molly's detective agency of one. Within the framework of an influenza epidemic in the city, certain of these Vassar women die, leading Molly to expand the scope of her original investigations to possible murder through poisonings. As Molly works to uncover an insidious scheme of revenge, she struggles with what the role of a wife should and would be, and she wonders if she can ever give up the independence she enjoys as a single working woman. As usual, Ms. Bown provides plenty of glimpses into the world of early twentieth century New York City, from the designated roles of women and men to the early days of the famous Dakota apartment building. ...more

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden finds Molly Murphy having an influx of cases for her detective business. Winter has arrived in New York City, with Christmas noTell Me, Pretty Maiden finds Molly Murphy having an influx of cases for her detective business. Winter has arrived in New York City, with Christmas not far away. Daniel is much more present in this novel, still awaiting the outcome of his suspension from the police force. As Molly and Daniel attempt to work through their feelings and challenges in their relationship, they add a new dimension to the mix, Daniel as an assistant to Molly in her detective work. It seems a reasonable solution when Molly finds herself with three pressing cases and a stranger residing in her home. The stranger is a girl whom Molly and Daniel found lying in a snow drift in Central Park, and either won't or can't respond to communications from those trying to help her. Molly, as usual, wants to save the girl. Meanwhile, Molly's cases take her from sizing up a possible suitor for a client, joining a musical theatre production to try and out a ghost, and finding a missing nephew of an old friend who stands accused of robbery and murder. Little wonder that she puts Daniel, with too much idle time on his hands, to work in helping her be so many places at one time. And, then there is the appearance of Nelly Bly, famous woman reporter, who has recently gone undercover in an insane asylum. Nelly's knowledge of these infamous institutions comes in handy at a crucial point, and I would have enjoyed even more inclusion of the plight of people so often ruthlessly committed and treated. Women in the early twentieth century were regularly subjected to the whims of their conventional and conservative families in the matter of sanity.

So, this addition to the fantastic Molly Murphy series is chock full of mysteries to solve and action to follow. As Molly gains more and more respect and attention as a detective, she is also evolving as an independent woman who must consider carefully the role she wishes to play in life. With the examples of strong women such as her friends Sid and Gus, Sabella Goodwin, and now Nelly Bly, Molly is finding her footing in establishing her own identity. ...more

Outstanding! The Molly Murphy mysteries continue to bring thrilling stories with fascinating historical background. I wasn't sure how I would like MolOutstanding! The Molly Murphy mysteries continue to bring thrilling stories with fascinating historical background. I wasn't sure how I would like Molly traveling to Ireland on an assignment and leaving behind familiar characters that I've come to enjoy. Sid, Gus, and Daniel were back in New York City, with Daniel getting ready to go to trial for bribery and setting up a prize fight. I should have known that Rhys Bowen wouldn't let me down. In Dublin's Fair City might even be my favorite one so far, although I still am looking forward to seeing how the Molly and Daniel storyline plays out.

This story begins with Molly accepting an investigative assignment to find a long-lost relative of a famous theatrical impresario, who has just learned of a baby sister left behind in Ireland when his family fled the potato famine many years before. Although Molly fears that there is still an outstanding arrest warrant for her in Ireland, she feels she can risk visiting Ireland, since her investigation won't take her near her childhood home she fled two years ago. The action starts before she sits a foot in her native land, with an unexpected turn of events and a murder on board the ship on which she is sailing. As usual, Molly is in the middle of trouble, but she is allowed to disembark and start her search for one Mary Ann Burke, the missing sister of her client. Awaiting her on her arrival in Dublin is a whole other set of problems and puzzles to solve, and her dealings with the Irish Republican Brotherhood provide a thrilling ride of suspense and revelation, as well as a romantic connection between Molly and the passionate leader of the Brotherhood. There are fleeting glimpses of Maude Gonne, Willaim Butler Yeats, and James Joyce in Dublin, too. I became so caught up in this book that I truly wanted more and more of it. I felt markedly sad when the tale ended. The best reading takes the reader into new territories of interests and encourages further examination. I now want to read more about Irish independence and the flight of the Irish from the potato famine. Such a moving story! ...more

Oh Danny Boy is the fifth installment in the Molly Murphy mystery series set in early twentieth century New York City. One of the strongest elements iOh Danny Boy is the fifth installment in the Molly Murphy mystery series set in early twentieth century New York City. One of the strongest elements in these books is how Rhys Bowen so clearly ensconces the reader into the time frame of this city full of immigrants. It is the Irish immigrants with whom we gain familiarity most, as Molly is an Irish young woman with all the sauce and temperament of the red-haired Irish lass. She is determined to make her own way in a male-dominated city and profession as a private investigator. The author is most adept at contrasting the accepted male and female roles in the early 1900s. One of the most admirable characteristics of Molly is her refusal to accept the limitations placed on her a a female and Irish immigrant.

In this latest book, Molly is faced with major and possible life altering problems, both professional and personal. Her complicated relationship with police Captain Daniel Sullivan takes on a reversal of roles, as she is now the one who must rescue and keep Daniel safe. He is no longer in a position to aid, or, as Molly sometimes sees it, hinder her with any police involvement, as Daniel finds himself in jail and accused of serious infractions against the police code and the law. It is up to Molly to prove that Daniel was set up and gain his release from "The Tombs," where many strong and healthy people go in, but where it is an arduous struggle to survive. In searching for answers to the questions surrounding Daniel's downfall, Molly finds herself in the middle of a serial killer investigation which takes on the nightmarish deception of a funny-house mirror. In her attempts to root out the truth, Molly encounters Police Matron Sabella Goodwin, a character based on real-life Isabella Goodwin, who in 1912 was appointed as the first female first grade detective on the New York City police force. In 1902, Sabella is fighting her own battles of prejudice against women, and it is great luck that Molly finds a kindred spirit and ally in her. It is a long and winding road to ferret out the facts for these two investigators, and Molly will experience both personal tragedy and professional frustration throughout.

Although I only discovered Julia Spencer-Fleming's amazing Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series this past summer, I immediately became a steadfastAlthough I only discovered Julia Spencer-Fleming's amazing Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series this past summer, I immediately became a steadfast fan. The bonus I received for playing catch-up is that I only had to wait four months between my reading of One Was a Soldier, #7 in the series, and Through the Evil Days, #8. Also, I had the fan-dream-come-true opportunity to meet Julia at Bouchercon in September and take a drive through a bit of the Adirondacks, eating lunch at a rustic inn on Lake Sacandaga. Driving on one of the mountainous roads within the stunning beauty of these mountains served to drive home the point of how treacherous the roads would be in winter weather conditions. So, I was well and truly primed for Through the Evil Days and its wintry setting amid the overwhelming landscape of towering trees and isolation. Of course, Spencer-Fleming's description of the powerful setting envelopes the reader into what becomes an inanimate character that challenges the strength of the resourceful, determined Episcopalian priest Clare Fergusson and Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne. Complex and complicated are conditions with which the two are all too familiar.

In reviewing a series in which you arrive at its eighth book, it is simply impossible not to include spoilers concerning previous books. So, I feel compelled to post a warning for the remainder of the review. These novels are way too good to read in any way other than building one upon the other. So, my advice for optimum enjoyment is to read the books before the reviews. Its already a given that Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series is a remarkable one, so just hop on and enjoy the ride.

In Through the Evil Days, January has arrived in Millers Kill, along with the wintry weather that tests endurance. Of course, Clare and Russ are taking their delayed honeymoon now, ice fishing in a remote lake area (Russ' idea), with Clare five and a half months pregnant. The fact that they've only been married less than three months is a typical Clare/Russ complication, one that this time is causing discussion of concern in the Episcopal diocese that Clare serves. Russ has his problems, too, with discussions from the town council of disbanding the police department. Before the couple can get out of town to start their chilly honeymoon, they are called to the scene of a deadly fire during the night, where two people have died and a child has been kidnapped. Russ hands over the investigation to his second-in-command Lyle MacCauley and vows to keep in touch as best he can from an area where communication is sketchy at best. MacCauley pairs up officers Kevin Flynn and Hadley Knox to deal with the minutiae of the investigation, a pairing that has its own history and entanglements. With the unexpected arrival of the ice storm of epic proportions, everyone's lives and jobs are thrown into disarray. The news that the missing child has had a recent liver transplant and is probably in need of her life-saving medications puts a time crunch on solving the arson/kidnapping case amidst the impossible weather conditions and impaired communication systems. Clare and Russ are cut off from any news from Millers Kill and vice versa. Of course, the honeymooning couple has no need of communicating. Right? Well, nothing is ever that simple or easy with the pair. The investigation and hunt for the eight-year-old girl will reach well beyond Millers Kill, and, as usual, Clare and Russ will be in the thick of it.

Reading this series continues to be so satisfying, truly like an old, dear friend visiting. I feel fortunate indeed to have discovered this talented author and this engaging series when I did. Although I came late to the party, I have made up for lost time and now am sitting on the front row of fans anticipating the next thrilling story....more

Dark, dismal, delightful. It's the Scottish isles at their most dark and battered, the Hebrides Isle of Lewis where murder and secrets team up with thDark, dismal, delightful. It's the Scottish isles at their most dark and battered, the Hebrides Isle of Lewis where murder and secrets team up with the bleak weather to create a riveting, suspenseful tale of lives damaged and distorted. For those of us who love our Scottish tales served up with a liberal dashing of despair, The Black House does not disappoint. Of course, the superb skill of Peter May as a writer tends to make the dark an acceptable atmosphere by including intriguing characters and a powerful plot. Local color of this isolated island also made for fascinating reading, with the annual pilgrimage to An Sgeir and the killing of the gugas there providing insight into the lives of the men of Lewis.

Fin McLeod has been away from the Isle of Lewis for almost twenty years, during which time he has become a policeman, gotten married, and had a son. It is at a point in his life when great tragedy has struck, his young son killed in an accident, when he has returned to work and finds himself being sent to his boyhood home to investigate a murder. The all-knowing Sherlock computer program pairs Fin up with a murder he is currently investigating in Edinburgh to one just committed on the Isle of Lewis. As expected, going home is not easy, as he leaves behind one broken life to encounter another. First love, damaged friendships, and bad memories are just some of the issues with which Finn McLeod must deal when he returns to a place he never expected to see again. The secrets he must uncover to solve his life's issues and a murder are complex and hidden deep in the recesses of memory and time. What Finn thought was finished on the place of his birth was only simmering and biding its time. As often is the case, the present can only be explained by the past.

I'm looking forward to reading the remaining two books in this trilogy, The Lewis Man and The Chessmen, to follow Fin McLeod through more police work and coming to terms with himself. I hope to learn more about this island in the Hebrides, where the population may be small, but the drama is large.

On a personal note, the length of time reading this book does not reflect on its ability to engage the reader. I went on a vacation where I was busy all of the time and unable to even fit in my beloved reading. Once I was able to return to normal life, which is reading for me, the pages flew through my fingers....more

The second part of the title of this novel by Hallie Ephron reads, “A Novel of Suspense.” It is aptly labeled. It is one of those books that the readeThe second part of the title of this novel by Hallie Ephron reads, “A Novel of Suspense.” It is aptly labeled. It is one of those books that the reader, me, had to finish before going to bed, simply because there would be no sleep until the suspense ended. Hallie Ephron knows how to entice a reader with intriguing characters and induce anxiety over what is on the next page.

Evie Ferrante is a senior curator at Five-Boroughs Historical Society in New York City and is putting the finishing touches on her first solo exhibit when she receives news that her mother is seriously ill in the hospital. Her mother’s neighbor in the riverfront neighborhood of Higgs Point, the Bronx is 91-year-old Mina Yetner, and it is Mina who calls Evie’s sister Ginger to inform them of their mother’s departure in an ambulance from the neighborhood. As Ginger has dealt with their alcoholic mother’s spells before, she insists that Evie take care of things this time, not realizing the severity of the situation. Evie has not seen her mother for four months, after yet another no-show from her mother at a lunch, and she is in shock at the condition of her mother’s house when she arrives there. Equally disconcerting is the discovery of large amounts of money and a new large, flatscreen television amidst the rubble in the house. Unfortunately, her mother is in no condition to answer any questions.

While Evie is struggling with her mother’s deterioration of both person and home, Mina is fighting her own battle to remain independent and not succumb to her nephew’s wishes to enter an assisted living facility. Evie temporarily moves into her mother’s house, and she becomes friendly with Mina, hoping that the older woman can help in the search to understand what has happened to Evie’s mother. Although Mina is beginning to wonder what is happening to herself and her neighborhood, she is still a sharp observer of human nature and her community. Evie and Mina will need each other to uncover the secrets of those around them, secrets and manipulations that have led to murder and threaten to lead to more.

One of the aspects of this novel that especially appealed to me was the historical information about the WWII bomber plane that hit the Empire State Building in 1945. Ephron smoothly integrated this historical event into the story through Evie's job and another surprising source. I always appreciate a little history with my mystery. ...more

In this third book of the Molly Murphy series, Molly has finally received two solid commissions for her struggling detective agency. One involves theIn this third book of the Molly Murphy series, Molly has finally received two solid commissions for her struggling detective agency. One involves the type of work that she originally set out to do, find missing persons, or connect people from one side of the pond to the other. After placing an ad in a Dublin newspaper, Molly receives a letter from a Dublin aristocrat searching for his runaway daughter who has fled to New York City. The other case that Molly undertakes places her in the hard knock world of women's garment factories, sweatshops that employed women to sew in horrible conditions for poverty wages. Molly is hired by the owner of one of these shops to uncover who is stealing his fashion designs and giving them to a rival company. Unfortunately, the job requires Molly to become one of the ill-treated workers who must sew for 12 hours with a pittance of a lunch break. It serves to open up Molly's world even further to the constricted role that women are expected to play in the work force. Both jobs will be demanding, and, as usual, Molly finds herself in danger more than once. Daniel is still telling Molly he wants her, but he is also still engaged to another woman, so Molly is trying to distance herself from him and her feelings for him. She once again enlarges her circle of friends through her work, discovering people across nationalities who work toward the betterment of all people. It's a pleasure to follow Molly in her endeavors to build her own business in a world dominated by men while she continues to carve a life for herself filled with friends and new interests. ...more

The second in the Molly Murphy series continues the enchantment with a feisty Irish lass named Molly, who has recently arrived in America and New YorkThe second in the Molly Murphy series continues the enchantment with a feisty Irish lass named Molly, who has recently arrived in America and New York City. She seems to find trouble wherever she goes, so it only makes sense that she decides to become a private investigator, helping both herself and others out of unpleasant situations. Unfortunately, her knack for uncovering or falling into secrets leads her to unsettling information concerning the man with whom she's fallen in love, Captain Daniel Sullivan of the New York Police Department.

Molly is more than ever determined to make it on her own in this second installment of her transformation from Irish country girl to New York City one among the masses. Molly is equally committed to meeting the challenges of surviving on her own terms. Her dogged persistence lands her a job an assistant to a private investigator named Paddy Riley, a seasoned Cockney p.i. Molly's idea of an assistant is to learn the ropes of the business. Paddy's idea of one is to clean up the office and run errands, like getting lunch. Before the two can compromise on expectations, Paddy Riley ends up dead from an apt placed knife stab. Molly is sure that Paddy's death must be connected to one of his three active cases, but she has her work cut out for her in the complex mess that was her employer's system of doing business. Of course, as is becoming the norm for this fascinating character, plunging ahead into a maze of confusion and danger is all in a day's work. It is a maze of characters and events that leads Molly not only to the answers but to a bright new circle of friends.

I have been meaning to read the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen for quite a while. Finally, I have read the first book in the series, Murphy's Law,I have been meaning to read the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen for quite a while. Finally, I have read the first book in the series, Murphy's Law, and I can't believe I waited so long. I love the character of Molly Murphy, an Irish young woman who unexpectedly finds herself running from the English police and on a boat to America. She makes a deal with another young woman who is trying to get her children to New York City to be with their father. Molly agrees to escort the children when the woman gives her ticket to Molly because the mother is dying from consumption and not allowed to board the ship.

Molly's hope of arriving in America and quickly fading into the background of the masses is derailed when a murder occurs among the immigrants while waiting to leave Ellis Island, their point of entry to New York City. Our sassy Irish lass is discovered to have been in the vicinity of the murder during the hours it took place, so she must face further delay and suspicions from the police before embarking on her new life. The policeman in charge, Cpt. Daniel Sullivan, is an attractive descendent of what is known as the "black Irish," and he takes a keen interest in Molly's connection to the murder. After finally being released to enter NYC, Molly takes her two charges and meets their father. Her living arrangements at the father's cousin's apartment are precarious at best and don't last long. With the arrest of one of Molly's friends from onboard the ship to America as the murder suspect, Molly's challenges in starting a new life become complicated. Searching for the real murderer to clear her friend's name, trying to find employment, and needing a place to live all converge on Molly at once. She has her work cut out for her in this new world. Luckily, Molly Murhpy is one plucky gal, and she meets challenges head on with determination and strength.

Rhys Bowen has created a character-driven series that I am delighted to have finally started reading. I love the wit and steely resolve that Molly Murphy exhibits. She is such a captivating personality, bringing fresh air to all she encounters. Of course, for Captain Daniel Sullivan, Molly often brings exasperation along, too. Following Molly navigate the streets of New York City to solve murders and make a life for herself is a journey I look forward to in the continuing books of this series. ...more

I just now finished reading How the Light Gets In, and I am spent. My emotions have survived a roller coaster ride that has taken me to the dark edgeI just now finished reading How the Light Gets In, and I am spent. My emotions have survived a roller coaster ride that has taken me to the dark edge of despair to the bright light of hope, and then they have been flipped over and over again. If you have read the previous eight books of this series, then you have already fallen in love with Armand Gamache and his supporting cast of characters, many of whom live in the fiction world's most beloved village of Three Pines. And, because of that love, there is nothing for it but to become immersed in this current story to the point of feeling all the anguish and joy that it contains for your favorite characters. I not only read the story, I lived it.

Number eight in the series, The Beautiful Mystery, left reader with a troubling cliff hanger. Inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir had returned to his pain pill addiction with a good hard push from a manipulating Chief Superintendent Francoeur. Chief Inspector Gamache had sent Jean Guy back to Quebec in hopes that Beauvoir would get help. In How the Light Gets In, the suspense of that outcome is answered in the beaten-down, pill-popping form of Gamache's once second-in-command. Now working for Francouer, Jean-Guy has turned against Gamache and the two no longer speak. Gamache's crack homicide unit has slowly been dismantled by Francoeur, leaving only Inspector Isabelle Lacoste to help Gamache amidst new, untrained, and disloyal team members. But, Three Pines is blessedly the same peaceful village removed from the corruption and turmoil of the world outside its isolated valley. Gamache is called to Three Pines by Myrna Landers, who owns the local bookstore, to investigate the disappearance of a friend from Montreal who was overdue for her arrival in the village for a Christmas visit. When a late arrival turns into a murder, Gamache begins to unravel a back story of national interest, but he is able to contain its secrecy. The deeper, more distressing problem/mystery with which Gamache must deal and try to unravel is what the corrupt Francoeur and his team are up to, a matter that threatens to involve and destroy all that Gamache holds dear, even his safe haven of Three Pines. There is a ticking clock that must be stopped, but it must first be discovered who is the puppeteer holding the strings and what is the means by which the final blow will be struck.

Louise Penny has accomplished what I thought impossible, a story that continually disturbed me and, yet, a story I absolutely embraced with complete enthusiasm. She can combine the terrible with the heart-warming better than any other author. The inhabitants of Three Pines--Clara, Myrna, Gabri, Olivier, Ruth and her duck Rosa--along with Gamache and his circle of friends and family--Reine-Marie, Annie, Jean-Guy, Isabelle, Yvette, Therese, and Jerome--are so much more than characters in a book. They are friends we are privileged to visit and from whom we glean hope, not only in their world, but ours, too. The quote by Leonard Cohen upon which the title of the book is taken conveys that hope perfectly and is yet another gift from this book. "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

I just finished this fifth book in the Ruth Galloway series, and I find myself in that place of grief for readers who have read all there is publishedI just finished this fifth book in the Ruth Galloway series, and I find myself in that place of grief for readers who have read all there is published so far in a favorite series. It has, however, been a glorious week of reading, as I have devoured this series from its beginning. I read one a day, and I am not normally a fast reader. I simply couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. It is the stuff of which readers dream and the well-deserved winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award.

The school term at North Norwich University if ending for Ruth Galloway, who teaches archaeology, when she receives news of an old university school chum's death in a tragic house fire in Lancashire. The following day she receives a letter from this same schoolmate, Dan Golding, asking for her help concerning a skeleton he has recently uncovered, a find that he states could be a major archaeological event. Golding also mentions that he is afraid, but he doesn't say of what. Within a few days, Ruth has a call from the head of Dan's department at Pendle University, a call requesting her to lend expertise in identifying the bones from Dan's excavation. She decides to take her summer holiday in Lancashire so that she can examine the bones. Accompanying Ruth are her toddler daughter Kate and her Druid friend Cathbad. As is often the case, Ruth's former married lover and Kate's father, DCI Harry Nelson, also ends up in the same local as Ruth. He is vacationing with his wife in his hometown and visiting family. Ruth has ignored several phone texts advising her not to come to Lancashire, and she is soon confronted with a shadowy hate organization that views murder as an acceptable means to prevent the bones discovered by her dead friend from being examined or publicized. With Ruth's and Kate's lives increasingly in danger, Nelson becomes involved in a police investigation into Dan Golding's death conducted by his hometown police friend. The twists and turns that I've come to love in this series prove a challenge for all who are trying to follow a trail of bones and history to solve a mystery. In the process, Ruth identifies some truths for her personal life, too.

My thanks to Elly Griffiths for creating the wonderful world of Ruth Galloway, Harry Nelson, Cathbad, Kate, and all the rest of the amazing characters in this series. Your storylines keep me spellbound, and the settings entrance me. I can hardly wait until I can sit down with these fictional friends once again. ...more

What a great lot of fun this book was! I used to be torn about my love for both the cozy mystery and the more intense, complex mystery and rating themWhat a great lot of fun this book was! I used to be torn about my love for both the cozy mystery and the more intense, complex mystery and rating them. Then, I realized that books have to be rated on their own merits and not a comparison basis to all other books. And, as if Lucy Burdette were reading my mind, the first words of her delightful novel, a quote at the beginning of chapter one, simplified all my thoughts and past vacillations. "A hot dog or a truffle. Good is good." (James Beard) It doesn't matter what genre, what categorization a book falls into. Good is good, and An Appetite for Murder is oh so good. I would say that this first book in her Key West Food Critic mystery series is both hot dog and truffle. Well written with great characters and dialogue, it has little nuggets of gold interspersed throughout.

Haley Snow has landed in the layback capitol of the country, Key West, after following her boyfriend of a couple of weeks there. Unfortunately, love up close isn't what it seemed like from a distance. Dumped, without a job, and living in a small houseboat with a friend, Haley is trying to live up to her namesake, Haley Mills, and smile through the pain. Not so fast, Ms. Snow. While focusing on snagging a food critic job with a new Key West magazine, a magazine half-owned by her ex-boyfriend's current love, Haley tries hard to keep her head above water. Then, the waves start crashing down upon her. Kristen Faulkner, her replacement in her ex's affections, is found murdered, and Haley is seen as an especially interesting person of interest to the police. And, Haley's fast, nervous talking and good intentioned but backfiring actions are helping to dig her hole deeper and deeper. The police seem to be getting closer each day to arresting the budding food critic, and Haley's spice of life new start will become most unpalatable unless she can find the missing ingredients to a murder.

Lucy Burdette takes me to one of my favorite places in this series, Key West, Florida. Her spot-on descriptions of this paradise enabled me to once again walk down Duval Street and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of a town that rates as my number one place to relax and forget your worries. Ms. Burdette's book is very much a Key West state of the mind trip itself. I am looking forward to continuing the series and following Haley Snow as she makes her home in the Conch Republic. ...more

It's 2 a.m. Do you know where your daughter/mother/grandmother/husband/son is? If they are lucky, they're finishing The Other Woman by Hank PhillippiIt's 2 a.m. Do you know where your daughter/mother/grandmother/husband/son is? If they are lucky, they're finishing The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan. To a bookaholic such as myself, staying up late to finish an awesome book is on the grand experiences level of reading. When I started reading last night, my goal was to read 200 pages in The Other Woman and finish it today. Ha. I laugh at my naivety. There would be no putting this book down until it was finished. Reading at its best.

Jane Ryland is starting over in her career of news reporting after her fall from grace as a television newscaster star. She now finds herself working as a reporter for a Boston newspaper and being assigned the less newsworthy issues. For Jane, being out of the loop is unbearable, and she quickly finds ways to connect to the bigger stories. Her assignment to cover the wife of a senate candidate leads to a search for the other woman, but the other woman proves to be an illusive term and person. As is often the case, present-day puzzles stem from past actions and events, both from Jane's life and the political scene in which she becomes involved. Jane's friendship with Detective Jake Brogan and his investigation into recent homicides of young women left near city bridges contributes more dots in Jane's search. With election day closing in, time is a constricting commodity. Not only are a senate race and the lives of young women at stake, Jane's redemption from her public career disgrace is on the line.

Hank Phillippi Ryan has created a mystery/crime thriller/political puzzle that will satisfy readers of all three interests. I lean more towards mystery and crime, but Ms. Ryan has shown me that political intrigue can be fascinating, too. Because, really, it's all about people and what makes them tick, motivates them, and sometimes leads them to paths of destruction for others and themselves. That's mystery indeed, and the combination of elements leads the reader on a delightfully suspenseful chase of first one twist, then another. Not to be ignored is the restrained but apparent chemistry between Jan and her detective, a fire that simmers waiting for the flame to rise. So, what's not to enjoy in reading The Other Woman? I suspect that Ms. Ryan will continue to titillate our reading pleasures in the next installment of this series. ...more

It's so hard to stop and review Lucy Burdette's Key West Foor Critic mysteries, as I am reading one after another. Each book is like taking a vacationIt's so hard to stop and review Lucy Burdette's Key West Foor Critic mysteries, as I am reading one after another. Each book is like taking a vacation to my favorite spot of Key West, and it's hard to take a break from that. Haley Snow is growing as both a woman and a critic in each addition to the series. Her understanding of herself and what she wants and deserves out of life are becoming more focused, and her subsequent actions and decisions are a bit more deliberate, although Burdette maintains the wonderful quirkiness and unexpected turns that I have loved about Haley from the beginning. After all, it is Key West, and anything is always possible. People don't choose to live in this laid-back paradise for normalcy.

In Topped Chef, Haley is chosen as a last minute judge in the Key West Topped Chef contest, a contest which is being filmed. The winner will have the chance to star in a reality cooking show. Haley's comfort level plummets as the first day of shooting she discovers one of her fellow judges, Sam Rizzoli, is the owner of a restaurant she just panned in a review, and one of the contestants is a woman she suspected of murder only recently. Haley knows her food, though, and she is determined to do her best to choose the best. Enter a slight bump in the road. Sam Rizzoli is found murdered on his own sail boat on the night that Haley and Detective Nate Bransford are supposed to have their first real date. The murder interrupts the date, and the would-be relationship is once more put on hold. As usual, Haley finds herself in the thick of a murder investigation, as the Topped Chef contest appears to be a target of sabotage with one incident after another. Her own safety as one of the judges is questionable, and she feels a vested interest in steering the police to the right path. The world of foodies is front and center in this latest mystery, and it is oh so delicious. ...more

In The Wrong Girl, Hank Phillippi Ryan continues the reporter Jane Ryland and Detective Jake Brogan series in great form. As in the first book, The OtIn The Wrong Girl, Hank Phillippi Ryan continues the reporter Jane Ryland and Detective Jake Brogan series in great form. As in the first book, The Other Woman, the action is perfectly paced, constantly building from one thrilling scene to the next, driving towards a connection of the mufti-layered plot that will not disappoint. Ms. Ryan knows how to hook the reader on page one and keep you squirming until the last word.

With Jane Ryland still adapting to life as a newspaper reporter, after her fall from television fame for protecting a source, she can ill afford any missteps in her precarious new position. What she doesn't need is Tucker Cameron, an ex-colleague that caused her headaches at the newspaper, showing up at her apartment on a Sunday afternoon with a problem for which Tuck is soliciting Jane's help. Having recently been reunited by a reputable adoption agency in Boston with her birth mother, Tuck is convinced a mistake has been made. Tuck implores Jane to use her reporter skills to uncover what is going on at the adoption agency that guarantees its information as indisputable. Tuck isn't the only person to be doubting the perfect record of the Brannigan Family and Children Services, and Jane soon starts to suspect that there's indeed something rotten in Denmark concerning the prestigious placement agency. The secrets run deep, and there are those willing to do whatever it takes to protect them.

Meanwhile, Boston Police Detective Jake Brogan is called to the scene of a murder where a young woman with no identification has been killed and two small children left alive in an apartment. Jake also notices a cradle, but no baby. He seems to be the only one at the crime scene puzzled about the absence. What appears at first glance to be a domestic homicide proves to be much more complex, wrapped in layers of missing information and missing and misidentified people. The foster care system becomes an integral part of an investigation that must break through a facade of smoke and mirrors.

Jane and Jake keep finding themselves crossing paths once more in looking for answers (and Jane, a scoop) in their respective searches. As usual, they serve each other as invaluable resources, and it is for that very reason they struggle to keep their desire for intimacy at bay. They fear anything beyond friendship and professional allies would cross a line that could cost one of both of them a career. But, when Jane starts receiving threats and Jake is placed in increasingly dangerous situations, it becomes harder to ignore the depth of their feelings for one another.

One of the aspects of Ryan's writing I most enjoy is how she puts layers of meaning in so much. Dialogue, plot,characters, and even the title. These all contain depths that tease the intellect and reward thinking. With both books in this series, one realizes that the titles, "other woman" and "wrong girl", have multiple sources to which these names could apply in the stories. I'm so looking forward to the next set of layers from this author. ...more

Delighted is what I am with this new mystery from Anne Cleeland. It has me speaking like the fair lass, DC Kathleen Doyle, that is half of the ScotlanDelighted is what I am with this new mystery from Anne Cleeland. It has me speaking like the fair lass, DC Kathleen Doyle, that is half of the Scotland Yard team in this first in the series of Acton and Doyle Scotland Yard Mysteries. Cleeland presents this story in a fresh, original style that opens each chapter with the very private thoughts of Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair, who also happens to be Lord Acton and the other half of the Scotland Yard team and brilliant, revered detective. Acton has tapped Doyle to work with him, finding most useful her intuitive skills discerning a witness's veracity.

The murder that begins the complex sequence of events in this mystery is that of a horse trainer at a London racetrack. Acton and Doyle begin interviewing witnesses with a prearranged signal from Doyle if interviewee is lying. Before 24 hours has passed, another murder has occurred, and thus begins a trail of bodies and mixed clues that make solving this case particularly difficult. Doyle's fellow DCs are disgruntled that she has been handpicked to assist Acton, and some wonder if it's more than just Doyle's detective skills that are admired. The partners play their personal lives close to the vest, so no one has any real ammunition to support any rumors. As Acton and Doyle find themselves involved in a quagmire of leads and false leads, they get to know each other on a personal level, too. It's a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, trying to finger the rotten apple in the barrel.

I enjoyed the dialogue between Kathleen Doyle and Michael Acton as much as I've ever enjoyed a dialogue. Kathleen's Irishness is full of good humor and cheer, and Acton's often dry humored responses are a perfect match. I found myself laughing aloud at some points, and at all times, I was just mesmerized at how seamlessly the dialogue flowed. If ever there were a book to use as an example of great dialogue, this one is it. I am truly smitten with this two new characters, and I can hardly wait to hear them talk again. ...more

One of the best aspects of reading for me is the introduction to new places and historical connections. Anna Loan-Wilsey in her debut novel has givenOne of the best aspects of reading for me is the introduction to new places and historical connections. Anna Loan-Wilsey in her debut novel has given me both. I admit that I wasn't overly excited with the setting being in Arkansas, as I didn't think I would be that interested in it, but Eureka Springs was fascinating. That should teach me to make unsubstantiated locale judgements. I found myself getting up out of bed the night I started reading it and using the computer to look up the area to better picture in my mind all the unusual street configurations and spring locations. To my delight, the author has links and information on her page about Eureka, even a map of how it would have appeared in 1892, the time setting of the novel. I do, however, wish that the map had been included in the book. It would have been helpful in imagining Hattie Davish's, the main character, wanderings throughout the town.

Hattie Davish is a traveling secretary who arrives in Eureka to serve as secretary for Mother Trevelyan, president of the women's temperance movement. Eureka is the site of the national meeting for the American Women's Temperance Coalition timed to coincide with a vote on Proposition 203 to criminalize the sale of alcohol. Before Hattie can meet her new employer, the temperance leader is murdered. A local bar owner is charged with the murder, but Hattie doesn't believe he is guilty and sets out to do some investigating on her own. With her meticulous eye for detail and order, she uses her typewriter to keep track of events and people, compiling a list of questions to try and connect the dots. She becomes acquainted with some interesting characters during her query, the delightful older sisters, Lucy and Lizzie, and the charming Dr. Walter Grice. Secrets are buried deep in this historical mystery, and Hattie encounters much personal risk, but she is as diligent in the undertaking of detective work as she is in her secretarial duties. She even discovers a few things about herself in the process.

Anna Loan-Wilsey has written an interesting, engaging historical mystery that left me looking forward to the next installment of the Hattie Davish series. 1892 turned out to be a very good year. ...more

I love a good ghost story, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare is indeed a good ghost story. It passed my ghost story test, which is dreaming about it. WhI love a good ghost story, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare is indeed a good ghost story. It passed my ghost story test, which is dreaming about it. When scary carries over to my sleep, I am thoroughly satisfied. Simone St. James has made me a very happy reader. The ghost story has historical aspects, with WWI having recently ended, and romantic aspects, with two of the main characters trying to fight their attraction to one another, as well as an angry ghost.

Sarah Piper is a London girl in her mid-twenties and surviving on temp work through an agency. Her life is rather uneventful and focused on finding work to pay the rent and eat. All of that dramatically changes when she accepts an assignment to accompany ghost hunter Alistair Gellis to a small English village where a female ghost, Maddy Clare, is haunting the barn in which she committed suicide. The owner of the barn and nearby house is desperate to be rid of Maddy and her tricks and unruly behavior. Sarah is to be Alistair's assistant, but his usual assistant, Matthew Ryder, turns up, too, and the three of them must work together to try and understand what the unsettled ghost wants before she can rest. Alistair and Matthew have never encountered a more devious or powerful spirit. Maddy Clare will bring a terror into the three associates' lives that is truly beyond this world. They must find the missing pieces to the tragedy of the girl's short life or face destruction of their own lives. Maddy is not easily appeased.

Kudos to Simone St. James for writing a superb scary tale that would have had me closing my eyes in parts if it had been a movie. It is an amazing debut novel, and I look forward to more great scares from her. ...more